Transmitting chain

Abstract

A transmitting chain is provided which can lower surface pressure between a bushing and a pin, which can well maintain a lubricating state, and which is high in durability so as to be capable of withstanding high load. A groove or a depression, into which lubricating oil, supplied from outside of the chain, is moved, is formed in at least one of a group including an inner peripheral surface of a bushing and an outer peripheral surface of a pin. A difference, space, or clearance, located between an inside diameter of the bushing and an outside diameter of the pin, of portions of the chain not including the groove or depression, is set in a range of from about 0.05 to 0.6% of the outside diameter of the pin.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transmitting chain comprising: a pair of inner plates, wherein each inner plate of said pair of inner plates has a pair of bushing-holes;   a pair of outer plates, wherein each outer plate of said pair of outer plates has a pair of pin-holes;   a pair of hollow cylindrical bushings each having first and second ends with outer peripheries which are fitted in and secured to said bushing-holes of said pair of inner plates;   a pair of pins each rotatably inserted into one of said pair of bushings, wherein each pin of said pair of pins have first and second ends which are fitted in and secured to said pin-holes of said outer plates arranged on both outer sides of said pair of inner plates;   any one of a groove and a depression into which lubricating oil, supplied from outside of said chain, is held, wherein anyone of said groove and said depression is formed in at least one of a group consisting of an inner peripheral surface of said pair of bushings and an outer peripheral surface of said pair of pins; and   a space, located between an inside diameter of said pair of bushings and an outside diameter of said pair of pins, of portions of said chain not including any one of said groove and said depression, is set in a range of from 0.05 to 0.6% of said outside diameter of said pair of pins.   
     
     
       2. The transmitting chain as set forth in claim 1, further including any one of a notch and a hole, formed to allow flow of lubricating oil, extending between an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of said pair of bushings. 
     
     
       3. The transmitting chain as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of inner link assemblies having said pair of inner plates and said pair of bushings;   a plurality of outer link assemblies having said pair of outer plates and said pair of pins, wherein each of said inner link assemblies is connected to said outer link assemblies adjacent to said inner link assembly; and   an offset link assembly comprising: a pair of offset plates;   a hollow cylindrical bushing having first and second ends with outer peripheries which are fitted in and secured to a first end of each of said pair of offset plates; and   a pin having first and second ends which are rotatably fitted in and secured to a second end of each of said pair of offset plates, wherein said pin of said offset link assembly is inserted into said bushing of one of said inner link assemblies adjacent to said offset link assembly, wherein said pin of one of said outer link assemblies is inserted into said bushing of said offset link assembly, and wherein any one of said groove and said depression is formed in at least one of a group consisting of an inner peripheral surface of said pair of bushings of each of said inner link assemblies, an inner peripheral surface of said bushings of said offset link assembly, an outer peripheral surface of said pair of pins of each of said outer link assemblies and an outer peripheral surface of said pin of said offset link assembly.     
     
     
       4. The transmitting chain as set forth in claim 3, further including any one of a notch and a hole, formed to allow flow of lubricating oil, extending between an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of said bushings of each of said inner link assemblies and said offset link assembly. 
     
     
       5. A transmitting chain comprising: a pair of inner plates, wherein each inner plate of said pair of inner plates has a pair of bushing-holes;   a pair of outer plates, wherein each outer plate of said pair of outer plates has a pair of pin-holes;   a pair of hollow cylindrical bushings each having first and second ends with outer peripheries which are fitted in and secured to said bushing-holes of said pair of inner plates;   a pair of pins each rotatably inserted into one of said pair of bushings, wherein each pin of said pair of pins have first and second ends which are fitted in and secured to said pin-holes of said outer plates arranged on both outer sides of said pair of inner plates;   any one of a notch and a hole, formed to allow flow of lubricating oil, extending between an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of said pair of bushings; and   a space, between an inside diameter of said pair of bushings and an outside diameter of said pair of pins, is set in a range of from 0.05 to 0.6% of said outside diameter of said pair of pins.   
     
     
       6. The transmitting chain as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: a plurality of inner link assemblies having said pair of inner plates and said pair of bushings;   a plurality of outer link assemblies having said pair of outer plates and said pair of pins, wherein each of said inner link assemblies is connected to said outer link assemblies adjacent to said inner link assembly; and   an offset link assembly comprising: a pair of offset plates;   a hollow cylindrical bushing having first and second ends with outer peripheries which are fitted in and secured to a first end of each of said pair of offset plates; and   a pin having first and second ends which are rotatably fitted in and secured to a second end of each of said pair of offset plates, wherein said pin of said offset link assembly is inserted into said bushing of one of said inner link assemblies adjacent to said offset link assembly, wherein said pin of one of said outer link assemblies is inserted into said bushing of said offset link assembly, and wherein any one of said notch and said hole extends between an outer peripheral surface of and an inner peripheral surface of said bushings of each of said inner link assemblies and said offset link assembly.     
     
     
       7. A transmitting chain comprising: a pair of plates;   a hollow cylindrical bushing having first and second ends with outer peripheries which are secured to a first end of each of said pair of plates;   a pin rotatably inserted into said bushing, wherein said pin has first and second ends which are fitted in and secured to a second end of each of said pair of plates;   any one of a groove and a depression into which lubricating oil, supplied from outside of said chain, is held, wherein anyone of said groove and said depression is formed in at least one of a group consisting of an inner peripheral surface of said bushing and an outer peripheral surface of said pin; and   a space, located between an inside diameter of said bushing and an outside diameter of said pin, of portions of said chain not including any one of said groove and said depression, is set in a range of from 0.05 to 0.6% of said outside diameter of said pin.   
     
     
       8. The transmitting chain as set forth in claim 7, further including any one of a notch and a hole, formed to allow flow of lubricating oil, extending between an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of said bushing. 
     
     
       9. A transmitting chain comprising: a pair of plates;   a hollow cylindrical bushing having first and second ends with outer peripheries which are fitted in and secured to a first end of each of said pair of plates;   a pin rotatably inserted into said bushing, wherein said pin has first and second ends which are fitted in and secured to a second end of each of said pair of plates;   any one of a notch and a hole, formed to allow flow of lubricating oil, extending between an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of said bushing; and   a space, between an inside diameter of said bushing and an outside diameter of said pin, is set in a range of from 0.05 to 0.6% of said outside diameter of said pin.